Joseph Skala, 61, died on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Chuck Huck presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake Falls.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 25, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service on Monday evening. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Joseph James Skala was born on May 1, 1949 in Crookston, MN, the son of Henry and Beverly (Scheiblauer) Skala. Joseph lived at home until he was five years old and then he lived in a group home in Cambridge, MN. He also lived in homes at Duluth, MN, Brainerd, MN, Fergus Falls, MN, Argyle, MN, Warren, MN and to Clearwater Group Home and then to Northwood Group Home in Red Lake Falls, where he has since resided. Special Olympics were very special to Joseph. He also enjoyed attending horse shows and pennings and loved to dance, listen to party music, especially Elvis Presley. Joseph loved watching John Wayne movies, spending many hours enjoying them. Joseph was a terrible tease and he loved kids, animals and the color red. One of Joes favorite sayings was, Ha, Ha, Gotcha!

He was a member of the Boy Scouts and the ODC.

Joseph is survived by his mother Beverly Lyons of Red Lake Falls, MN; brother and sisters, Eugene (Judy) Skala, Karen (Mike) Knott and Kathleen Skala, all of Red Lake Falls; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Anna, Adam, Natasha, Kristin, Ben and Christopher; grand niece, Jordyn; and family and staff of Northwood Group Home.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry; an infant brother, and a special friend, Mimi.